Couple fights poverty in Haiti with free medical care

Wednesday

John and Linda Underwood have seen poverty close-up in the 10 years they’ve provided free medical clinics in Haiti.

John and Linda Underwood have seen poverty close-up in the 10 years they’ve provided free medical clinics in Haiti.

But when the doctor and nurse arrived to the third-world country in November, they were struck by the overwhelming damage caused by summertime hurricanes.

“We saw devastation in regards to damaged and destroyed huts, evidence of mud slides and erosion, washed out farm land, death of many farm animals, and severe malnutrition,” Linda Underwood said.

Their shock quickly turned to gratitude, as they thought of the extra medications and supplies in their bags purchased with donations from generous Rockford Register Star readers.

After a story about the Underwoods’ mission work ran in September, donations poured in to the Rockford couple’s Haiti fund.

In all, they received $6,500 to help Haitians who might otherwise have no medical care.

“The response from your readers was overwhelming,” Linda Underwood said. “We were quite humbled with the generosity of the community.”

Five hundred Haitian school children now have a three-month supply of daily vitamins, thanks to Register Star readers. The Underwoods distributed prenatal vitamins to pregnant Haitian women and doled out food to some of the poorest families in Haiti, too.

“A teenage girl had infected wounds on her legs. We cleaned them up and gave her antibiotics. She asked if it was OK to take them on an empty stomach since she had not had food to eat for three days.”

That teenage girl wasn’t alone. The Underwoods said many of the children they saw were suffering from severe malnutrition. They were very small and thin. Lack of protein in their diet had lightened their hair and skin. Even the Underwoods didn’t have much food during their trip.

“Our meals consisted of beans and rice, fish and granola bars that we brought with us,” Linda Underwood said. “It was not difficult to go hungry for a few days when we realized that the Haitians have been suffering for months.”

When they left, the Underwoods made sure the Haitians had a few supplies — simple first aid equipment, vegetable seeds and building materials — to help them in the coming months.

Their next trip to the island is scheduled for January. Their son Eric plans to join them for what would be his first Haiti trip.

“We anticipate the health needs of the Haitians will be more of the same,” Linda Underwood said. “Even before the hurricanes, their extreme poverty was life-threatening. Now, with the destruction of the crops and farm animals, their ongoing needs will be great.”